Container with reclosable pouring opening



Jan. 10, 1956 c. H. DIXQN 2,730,288

CONTAINER WITH RECLOSABLE POURING OPENING Filed Dec. 28, 1949 4Sheets-Sheet l im/enior Charles H.D1xon w W .F 4/44.

Jan. 10, 1956 c, DIXON CONTAINER WITH RECLOSABLE POURING OPENING 4Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 28, 1949 M 6 w 3 m y .U m

Jan. 10, 1956 c. H. DIXON 2,730,288

CONTAINER WITH RECLOSABLE POURING OPENING Filed Dec. 28, 1949 4Sheets-Sheet 3 Inventor Charles H Dixon 44A.

Jan. 10, 1956 c, DlXON 2,730,288

CONTAINER WITH RECLOSABLE POURING OPENING Filed Dec. 28, 1949 4Sheets-Sheet 4 Inventor Charles HDixon 2,730,288 CONTAINER WITHRECLOSABLE POURING OPENING Charles H. Dixon, Detroit, Mich, assignor toEx-Cell-t) Corporation, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of MichiganApplication December 28, 1949, Serial No. 135,430 6 Claims. (Cl. 22-17)The present invention relates generally to containers and morespecifically to a disposable, self-sustaining container of paper or thelike having a novel and improved reclosable pouring opening of thegeneral type disclosed in U. S. Patent No. 2,270,617, issued January 20,1942, to Racy D. Bennett. The invention finds particular, but by nomeans exclusive, utility in flat topped containers adapted fordistributing milk and other dairy products.

One object of the present invention is to provide a container having aliftable member sanitarily covering the pouring opening and initiallydisposed in fiuidtight relation with the container wall, such containerincluding means whereby the liftable member may be reclosed andpositively but releasably latched in such position over the pouringopening.

Another object is to provide a container of the character set forth andwherein the liftable member can be broken loose to expose the pouringopening by the application of a relatively slight force to a novelgripping tab, permitting the container to be opened without the use ofthe fingernail or any other opening instrument.

A further object is to provide a container of the character set forthand capable of being constructed economically from a relatively simple,single sheet blank which can be cut out by means of a high speed cartonconverting machine.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as the followingdetailed description proceeds, taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an illustrative container embodyingthe present invention and showing the liftable member in its initialfluidtight closed position.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation of the container ofFig. 1 and showing the manner in which the liftable member can begripped by the fingertips.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the upper portion of thecontainer illustrated in Fig. 1 but showing the liftable member in itsraised position whereby the pouring opening becomes exposed.

Fig. 4 is a plan view detailing the inside face of the blank from whichthe illustrative container of Fig. 1 may be constructed.

Figs. 5 and 6 are fragmentary perspective views illustratingsequentially certain of the steps involved in forming the top closure ofthe container of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken throughthe upper portion of the container of Fig. l and in the plane of theline 7-7.

Figs. 8 and 9 are enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional views similarto 'Fig. 7 but illustrating sequentially the manner in which theliftable member may be latched in place upon reclosure.

While the invention is susceptible of various modifications andalternative constructions, a preferred embodi ment has been shown in thedrawings and will be described below in considerable detail. It shouldbe understood, however, that there is no intention to limit theinvention nited States Patent 0 to the specific form disclosed, but onthe contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications andalternative constructions falling within the spirit and scope of theinvention as expressed in the appended claims.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, there is shown in Fig. 1 anexemplary tubular container 10 embodying the present invention. Thecontainer 10 is of the self-supporting, disposable type, being formedfrom paper or other suitable sheet material and being coated orimpregnated with a suitable substance to render it fluidtight andcapable of holding liquids such as milk. The container 10 comprises amain body portion 11 which in the present instance happens to besubstantially square in cross section. At its base, the body 11 may beprovided with any appropriate bottom closure, the details of the latterbeing quite independent of the present invention. At its upper end, thebody portion 11 pering transition portion 12 which is surmounted by aclosable pouring opening 15 is a lift tab 18 which may be swung upwardlyfrom closed position by the application of force from the fingertips toa gripping tab 19 integrally connected with the lift tab and protrudingbeyond the marginal overhang of the top closure 14, as Fig. 2. Suchaction of course serves to expose the pouringopening 15 for dispensingof the contents of the container. The peripheiy of the opening 15 is cutso that a portion of it adjacent the liftable end of the tab 18 willserve as a pouring weir 20 when the container is raised to dispensingposition. In addition, the pouring opening 15 is so dimensioned relativeto the lift tab 18 that it will have a substantial sanitary margin 21 ofstock below and flanking the pouring weir and underlying the lift tab18.

Preferably, the container 10 is formed from a fiat blank 22 of heavypaper stock or other suitable sheet material, the inside face of suchblank being illustrated in Fig. 4. By means of a suitable pattern ofscore lines and perforations, the blank 22 is divided into a pluralityof panels and areas which are utilized for the walls of the containerand the closure parts when the container is erected. Thus the centraland major area of the blank 22 is scored to define side panels 24, 25and 26, together with fractional side panels 28 and 29. All of theseside panels serve to define the major body portion 11 of the erectedcontainer, the fractional side panels 28, 29 being lapped over andjoined together as by means of adhesive band 30. Connected to these sidepanels adjacent their upper edges are a plurality of rectangularextensions 24', 25', 26', 28 and 29, all separated from theircorresponding side panels by a common transverse score line 31. Thefractional panel extensions 28', 29' are lapped over and glued in amanner similar to the lapping of the panels I 2.3, 29 by an adhesivearea which is a continuation of the major parts of the top closure strip39. The upper extremities of the panel extensions 24' to 29, inclusive,are defined by a second common score line 32 parallel to the line 31.Connected to the panel extensions 24 to 29', inclusive, along the scoreline 32 are a plurality of parts which form the top closure 14 of thecontainer. Included in this group are flange panels 24", 25", 26", 23"and 29" which correspond to the respective ones of the side panelextensions. In addition to the foregoing, the blank 22 includes twoadditional 14, namely, flaps 34, 35 which are respectively connected toflange panels 24", 26" along score lines 36, 38. The central portion ofthe panel 34 is formed with a relatively large T-shaped aperture, aportion of which serves as the pouring opening i5 and another portion.of which serves as the filling opening 16 of the container. The flap 35includes a pair of laterally spaced lines 39, 40, wherein the stock isperforated or otherwise weakened, and which define lift tab 18, thematerial between these lines being extended so as to provide materialfor the gripping tab 19. Running transversely of the flap 35 andsubstantially through the inner termini of the lines 39, 40 is a scoreline 41 which defines a hinge line for the lift tab 18. The score line41 also defines a hinge line for the portion of the flap 35 whichnormally overlies the filling opening 16 and, together with cut 43 whichpartially separates the flap 35 from the flange panel 26", permits suchportion to be raised for filling purposes without disturbing the lifttab or the dispensing opening.

In order to render the upper and lower surfaces of the top closure 14accessible from the exterior of the container for sealing purposes,provision is made for causing the flange panels 24", 26", 28" and 29" toturn outwardly upon erection of the carton. This is done by scoring theblank 22 so as to create a sort of bellows fold between the transitionportion 12 and the top closure of the container. Accordingly, the panelextension 25 has impressed thereon symmetrically disposed score lines42, 44 converging upwardly so as to divide its area into a subpanel 45having the shape of an isosceles trapezoid with a base equal in width tothat of the side panel 25, and a pair of relatively small subpanels 46,43 of right triangular shape flanking the subpanel 45. By the sametoken, the flange panel 25" has impressed thereon score lines 49, 56commencing respectively at the intersections between the score line 32and the ends of the lines 42, 44. These lines diverge upwardly so as todefine in the flange panel 25" an elongate central subpanel 51 overlyingthe subpanel 45 and a pair of flanking trapezoidal subpanels 52, 54overlying the subpanels 46, 48. Similarly, the fractional side panelextensions 28, 29 and the associated fractional flange panels 28", 29are respectively scored by lines 55, 56, 58, 59 in such a manner thatwhen joined together by the adhesive strip they will have asubstantially identical pattern of related subpanels. Thus, the panels28', 28" include triangular subpanel 60 and trapezoidal subpanel 61while the panels 29, 29" will include triangular subpanel 62 andtrapezoidal subpanel 64.

To secure the component parts of the top closure 14 in fluid-tightrelation after the container 10 is erected and filled, a suitablepattern of adhesive material is applied to the flange panels as well asto certain marginal areas of the flaps 34, 35. While various adhesivesmay be used for this purpose, it has been found highly satisfactory toemploy a thermal setting material applied by a printing process andwhich can be activated in response to heat and pressure.

The steps in erecting the carton 10 from the blank 22 are notcomplicated and may readily be performed by machine or manual means.Assume first that the blank 22 has been erected into an open-ended tubeby folding the same along the score lines between its side panels and bysecuring together through the use of the adhesive strip 30 thefractional side panels 28, 29 along with their extensions 28, 29'.Assume further that the bottom closure of the container has beencompleted in the usual manner. If the tube should then be manipulated sothat its adjacent side panels are at right angles to each other, theapplication of external forces to the upper regions of the side panelextensions 25, 28'-29' tending to fold the same inwardly will tend toswing the upper ends of the opposed side panel extensions 24, 26'inwardly, causing the latter to hinge about the score line 31. Ifadditional external forces should now be brought to bear upon-the upperportions of the side panel extensions 24, 26' while maintaining theforces on the panels 25', 28'-29', the flange panels 24", 25", 26" and28"- 29 will commence to fold outwardly. The application of a relativelyslight downward force to the latter will cause the container to assumethe condition illustrated in Fig. 5. As a necessary incident to suchaction, the subpanels 46, 52 fold over onto side panel extension 24' andits associated flange panel 24", occupying the dotted line positionsindicated in Fig. 4 by the reference characters 46 and 52',respectively. The subpanels 48, 54 likewise fold over against fractionalside panel 26 and its associated flange panel 26", occupying the dottedline positions indicated by the reference numerals 48, 54, respectively.Similar action occurs on the opposite side of the container, thesubpanels 60, 61 folding over upon side panel extension 26 and flangepanel 26" to occupy the positions indicated at 60' and 61'. Subpanels62, 64 also fold over against side panel extension 24' and flangepanel24" to occupy the positions indicated at 62' and 64. Such folding actionproduces a relatively deep and open V-groove around the underside of thetop closure 14 and at the same time strengthens the transition portion12 of the container by defining corner ribs 65 therein (Figs. 1, 3, 5and 6). From this point on, the top closure 14 of the container 10 maybe completed in a simple and straightforward manner. Thus the outturnedflap 34 may be swung through 180 and folded downwardly upon the upperfaces of the flange panels, from the position of Fig. 5 to that shown inFig. 6. Thereupon, the flap 35 may be folded downwardly upon the upperface of the flap 34 and the gripping tab 19 completed. The subsequentapplication of heat and pressure to the marginal portions of the closure14 serves to activate the adhesive and seal the closure. It might benoted in passing that the half of the flap 35 overlying the region ofthe filling opening 16 is preferably left unsealed until after thecontainer has been filled.

Turning now to the manner in which the novel gripping tab 19 isconstructed, it will be noted that the parts which make up the tab 19are held together by a continuous band of adhesive 66 which completelyencircles the pouring opening 15 and sealingly connects the flaps 34 and35. In the present instance, the adhesive band 66 is applied in a stripof substantially uniform width over the marginal areas adjacent three ofthe four sides of the flap 35. Along the fourth side of the flap 35,which lies at the front of the container as viewed in Fig. 1, theadhesive band 66 covers a substantial portion of a longitudinalextension of the lift tab 18 (see Figs. 4, 5 and 6). Such extension isdivided by score lines 68, 69, and 70 into fractional panels 71, 72 and74, the adhesive being applied only to the two inside panels 71, 72.Referring more specifically to Fig. 6, it will be perceived that theupper face of the flap 34 provides ample area for secure engagement withthe band 66 constituting the adhesive coated area of the flap 35. Thatsubstantially uniform strip of the band 66 running along the marginaledge portions of three sides of the flap 35 merely engages theunderlying and corresponding areas of the flap 34 when the flap 35 isfolded down upon the latter. During such action, however, only a portionof the remaining adhesive coated area in the band 66, namely, that oflift tab extension panel 71, will initially contact the panel 34. Suchcontact is made against a holding tab 75 integral with the flap 34 andprojecting forwardly therefrom. The holding tab 75 includes a score line76 recessed inwardly from the front edge of the flap 34. A weakened orperforated line 78 partially separates the tab 75 from the main portionof the flap 34. During the course of elfecting a fluidtight seal betweenthe flaps 34 and 35, the lift tab extension panel 72 is bent through anangle of about the score line 69 and pressed into contact with theunderside of the holding tab 75, the panel 74 being bent back toward thepanel 72 at the same time. When heat and pressure are applied to theflaps 34, 35 to activate the adhesive in the top closure 14, includingthat of the band 66, the major portion of holding tab 75 becomesadhesively sandwiched between the lift tab extension panels 71, 72. Whenthis step has been completed, the

panels 71, 72, along with the sandwiched portion of the holding tab 75,are bent downwardly at about 90 to the top closure as indicated in Fig.l, the panel 71 bending about score line 68 and the tab 75 bending aboutscore line 76. These members of course constitute the depending grippingtab 19 of multiple ply thickness and by means of which the lift tab 18is manipulated. With the gripping tab in its depending position, itmight be noted that the lift tab panel extension 74 has one end fixed tothe gripping tab and its opposite end free, such free end nestingagainst the stock on the underside of the marginal overhang of the topclosure 14. The distance between the fixed end and the free end of thepanel extension 74 is no greater than the marginal overhang of the topclosure.

Although the perforation lines 39, 40 defining the main lateral edges ofthe lift tab 18 are located within that portion of the area of the flap35 encircled by the adhesive sealing band 66, they do not violate thefluidtight integrity of the container 10. This is due in part to thefact that the lines 39, 40 do not overlie the pouring opening butinstead overlie the sanitary margin 21 which is integral with the flap34. it is also due to the fact that the perforations or weakenedportions of the lines 39, 40 become sealed by the paraffin or othermaterial with which the container may be coated or impregnated.

Provision is made for permitting the lift tab 18 to be broken loose andraised to expose the pouring opening 15 upon the application to thegripping tab 19 of a relatively slight but deliberately applied forceand entirely without the use of the fingernail or any other openinginstrument. This is accomplished by a novel correlation between thegripping tab 19, the adhesive band 66, and the particular disposition ofthe perforation lines utilized in the flaps 34, 35. Referring to Figs. 4and 6, it will be noted that the encircling adhesive band 66 on theunderside of the flap 35 has two necked-down portions 79, 81 adjacentthe ends of the panel 71 and the lateral extremities of the tab 18.These areas lie between the lefthand edge of the flap 35 (as viewed inFig. 4) and the termini of the weakened perforation line 78 whichoccupies a position shown at 78' on flap 35 when the top closure iscompleted and which divides the holding tab 75 from the flap 34. Sinceseparation of the tab 75 from the flap 34 must occur principally alongthe line 73, any resistance offered by the adhesive band 66 to theraising of the lift tab 18 would be negligible. Thus it will be seenthat the retaining force holding the lift tab 18 in place is set upprimarily by the unsevered stock between the perforations or weakenedportions of the lines 39, 40 and 78, together with that set up by thethin bridging portions of material 81, 82 in the flap 34 underlying thelines 39, 40 and bounded by the ends of the line 78 and the front orright-hand edge of the flap 34 (as viewed in Fig. 4). Some additionalretaining force will exist between the lift tab extension panel 74 andthe underside of flange panel 25" and such force may be enhanced due toadhesion set up by the paraflin or other coating material on thecontainer.

The total resistance to the lifting of the tab 18 for exposure of thepouring opening is sufliciently great to preclude accidental opening ofan initially sealed container during shipment or handling. By reason ofthe liberal gripping area of'the gripping tab 19, however, and the factthat the tabs 18, 19 are adapted to break loose from the variousresisting area sequentially, it will be appreciated that the containercan be opened by a user upon exertion of only a fingertip force on thegripping tab, Assuming the container to be in the condition of Figs. 1,2 and 7, an outward and upward pull on the gripping tab 19 will serve toloosen the panel 74 from the under side of the flange panel 25" and willcause the narrow bridges of stock 31, 82 adjacent the ends of theperforation line 78 to rupture due to a combination of shearing andtension forces. At about the same time, the lift tab causes parting ofthe holding 18 will start to tear loose at the outer termini of theperforation lines 39, 40. Continued lifting force on the tab 19 willcause progressive severing of the resisting strands of stock along theline 78 due to the fact that such line is not straight but V-shaped whenviewed in plan. The severing action along the line 78 ultimately tab 75from the flap 34 and leaves only the stock of perforation lines 39, 40to resist further lifting of the tabs 18, 19. Due to the hingeconnection between the tab 18 and the flap 35 along the score line 41,the remaining resisting strands of stock in the lines 39, 40 becomeprogressively ruptured and leave the pouring opening 15 completelyexposed.

During the course of initially raising the lift tab 18 and its grippingtab 19, there is defined in the sanitary margin 21 a pouring lip 84which depends below the pouring weir 20 when the container is held inpouring position. Moreover, the severance of the holding tab 75 alongthe perforation line 78 produces an edge 85 of virgin paper stock on thepouring lip 84. The pouring lip 84 is supported by the underlying flangepanel 25 which has its outer edge recessed as at 86 so as not tointerfere with the action of he lip 84. The recess 86 also precludesadhesive engagement between the flange panel 25" and the holding tab 75,thereby contributing to the ease with which the lift tab 18 may beelevated.

In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, provision is madein the container 10 for positively but releasably holding the lift tab18 in a reclosed position over the pouring opening 15. Referring oncemore to Figs. 4 and 7 to 9, inclusive, it will be noted that theoutermost extension panel 74 of the lift tab 18 is so proportioned thatits free end portion substantially underlies the flange panel 25" by aconsiderable margin. Moreover, when the triple thickness gripping tab 19is bent into depending relation with the plane of the top closure 14, ittends to acquire a set in this position and to return to it after beingtemporarily deflected as for the raising of the lift tab 18. By reasonof the foregoing, the panel 74 and gripping tab 19 constitute aneffective spring latch for positively securing the lift tab 18 inreclosed position after the same has been initially opened. The latchingaction is effective to afford protection to the pouring opening and yetreadily permits disengagement of the parts for subsequent dispensingoperations.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a disposable tubular container of paper or the like having arelatively flat end closure overlying the side walls of the containerwith an overlapping margin therearound, the combination of a first flaphaving a dispensing opening defining therein a pouring weir, a holdingtab integral with said first flap but severable therefrom along a linelocated between the pouring weir and the adjacent edge of said firstflap, said line being located so as to define a pouring lip between saidweir and the adjacent edge of said first flap, a second flap overlyingsaid first flap and adhesively secured thereto, a lift tab integral withsaid second flap and disposed in fluidtight overlying relation with thepouring opening and said severable line, a first extension panel on saidlift tab overlying said holding tab and being adhesively securedthereto, a second extension panel on said lift tab but disposed inunderlying relation with said holding tab and adhesively securedthereto, said first and second extensions and said holding tab beingyieldably set in depending and substantially perpendicular relation tosaid lift tab, and a third extension panel disposed in underlyingrelation with a portion of said holding tab and the adjacent portion ofsaid pouring lip.

2. In a tubular container of paper or the like having an end closurewith an overhanging margin between its edges and the supporting wall ofthe container, the combination comprising a first flap having adispensing openmg therein, a second flap adhesively secured in overlyingrelation with said first flap, a lift tab hinged to said second flap andbeing substantially coplanar therewith, a series of panel extensions onsaid lift tab, certain ones of said extensions having a portion of saidfirst flap adhesively sandwiched therebetween and thereby defining agripping tab, said gripping tab being bent into depending relation withsaid lift tab, the remaining one of said panel extensions being disposedin underlying latching relation with the overhanging margin of said endclosure, said outermost extension being yieldably biased into suchposition by said gripping tab.

3. In a tubular container of paper or the like having a relatively flatend closure overlying the side walls of the container and a dispensingopening in said end closure, the combination of a hinged lift tabinitially disposable in overlying relation with the dispensing opening,a holding tab attached to said end closure along a severance linerunning in a direction no-parallel with the edge of said end closure, agripping tab hinged to said lift tab, and means joining said grippingtab to said holding tab, said gripping tab When lifted being adapted toinitiate a progressive severing action freeing said holding tab fromsaid end closure to permit elevation of said lift tab.

4. In a tubular container of paper or the like having a substantiallyfiat end closure with a dispensing opening therein, the combinationcomprising a hinged lift tab disposable in overlying relation with thedispensing opening, a holding tab attached to said end closure along aseverance line other than a straight line, a gripping tab fixed to saidlift tab and also to said holding tab, said gripping tab and a portionof said holding tab being disposable in depending relation with saidlift tab, said gripping tab being adapted to transmit a progressivesevering force to said holding tab.

5. In a tubular container of paper or the like having a relatively flatend closure, the combination comprising a first flap having a pouringopening therein, a second flap adhesively secured in overlying relationwith said first flap, a lift tab hinged to said second flap andinitially disposable in sealed overlying relation with the pouringopening, a holding tab connected with said first flap along aseveranceline having its ends closer to the free edge of said holding tab thanits intermediate portion, a plurality of panel extensions on said lifttab, and means adhesively sandwiching s'aid holding tab between saidpanel extensions.

'6. In a disposable tubular container of paper or the like having ar'nain'body portion, a transition portion, a relatively flat end closurehaving a weakened tear line defining the outer edge of a permanentmarginal portion overhanging said transition portion, and means defininga pouring opening in said flat'end closure, the combination comprising alift tab overlying said pouring opening and said overhanging marginalportion and being swingable from an initial fluid tight position in theplane of said fiat end closure to a raised position for exposure of saidpouring opening; spaced substantially parallel score lines on said lifttab defining first, second and third extension panels on the free endthereof, said first panel being bent downwardly along one of said scorelines in depending relation to said lift tab and protruding beyond theouter edge of said overhanging marginal portion of said end closure,said second panel being bent along one of said score lines through 180degrees to form with said first panel a multiple ply gripping tab, andsaid third panel being bent along another of said score lines andprojecting inwardly toward the transition portion of said container andterminating in a free end positioned beneath and against the undersideof said overhanging marginal portion of said end closure to thus latchmechanically therewith for retention of the lift tab in reclosedposition after initial raising of said lift tab.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,717,367 Byrne June 18, 1929 2,276,577 Hahn Mar. 17, 1942 2,449,046Barnes et a1. Sept. 14, 1948 2,470,388 Ball May 17, 1949 2,581,237Casler Ian. 1, 1952

